Overview

Stream and lake data collected since 2001 were summarized by grouping by each site (stream site or lake) and the median value over the period of the record was calculated. This was done to reduce the influence of waterbodies which were sampled multiple times skewing the resulting summary statistics. For lake data, epilimnetic and hypolimnetic data were analyzed separately.

The secondary grouping variables used were Level III Ecoregion and Waterbody Classification. To simplify the number of categories for waterbody classifications, (T) and (TS) designations were ignored in the summary. Also, waterbodies designated as AA-S were treated as AA.

Actual Stream TDS Ecoregional Distribution

Table 1: Stream Ecoregional TDS (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 46.50 67.00 322.50 453.5 864.30 2365.0 39
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 140.00 180.00 248.00 257.9 376.70 537.5 13
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 134.75 170.00 225.50 228.0 253.50 263.0 11
61 Erie Drift Plain 167.00 167.00 167.00 167.0 167.00 167.0 1
62 North Central Appalachians 122.50 140.00 157.50 161.0 171.50 175.0 2
67 Ridge and Valley 162.00 246.25 333.12 336.9 453.95 608.5 30
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 103.25 247.50 392.25 397.0 1487.50 1770.0 36
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 117.50 117.50 117.50 117.5 117.50 117.5 1
Figure 2: Stream Ecoregional TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 2: Stream Ecoregional TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Modeling TDS based on Specific Conductance

Figure 3: Linear regression of TDS (mg/L) and Specific Conductance (uS/cm)

Figure 3: Linear regression of TDS (mg/L) and Specific Conductance (uS/cm)

Figure 4: Actual vs. Predicted TDS (mg/L)

Figure 4: Actual vs. Predicted TDS (mg/L)

Stream (predicted) TDS Ecoregional Distribution

Table 2: Stream Ecoregional (predicted) TDS (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 24.40 46.52 97.83 122.31 277.63 2559.73 678
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 192.76 278.42 450.31 479.39 707.41 11134.94 397
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 78.07 145.42 234.52 251.93 356.87 1826.54 917
61 Erie Drift Plain 143.28 177.26 208.54 213.05 254.19 490.32 73
62 North Central Appalachians 46.16 74.16 129.22 143.96 250.38 3465.95 100
64 Northern Piedmont 245.31 280.54 418.82 428.56 9076.04 11343.46 30
67 Ridge and Valley 83.01 207.84 313.79 328.02 501.03 766.47 106
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 146.27 272.22 423.26 461.02 805.36 3135.13 941
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 92.45 131.33 175.29 181.32 229.39 305.81 41
Figure 5: Stream Ecoregional (predicted) TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 5: Stream Ecoregional (predicted) TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Lakes (predicted) Ecoregional TDS Distribution

Table 3: Predicted Lake Epilimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 14.69 23.61 52.21 65.33 165.54 489.59 190
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 151.45 213.78 319.27 365.26 753.06 7828.50 55
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 48.33 112.45 175.43 194.70 297.47 705.04 91
61 Erie Drift Plain 129.39 157.93 165.13 167.32 200.68 227.59 11
62 North Central Appalachians 32.62 48.21 85.29 86.78 130.66 191.52 21
64 Northern Piedmont 217.36 243.57 289.31 297.05 339.05 356.90 8
67 Ridge and Valley 101.58 133.87 175.85 178.96 263.83 268.59 17
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 94.27 174.50 334.00 406.57 876.06 1533.20 112
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 77.72 112.72 166.94 178.64 190.97 206.29 20
Figure 6: Predicted Lake Epilimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 6: Predicted Lake Epilimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Table 4: Predicted Lake Hypolimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 19.96 32.26 49.93 52.86 181.56 509.88 118
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 192.79 225.33 368.65 473.30 1068.31 1964.04 19
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 76.00 150.61 211.04 228.30 278.66 407.31 34
61 Erie Drift Plain 141.81 145.87 164.67 171.73 186.10 188.62 9
62 North Central Appalachians 50.20 77.60 98.74 106.90 150.58 164.47 12
64 Northern Piedmont 244.34 249.71 255.08 256.15 259.37 260.44 2
67 Ridge and Valley 141.25 204.20 218.85 226.53 297.13 325.20 7
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 97.42 192.76 426.56 481.60 1213.89 1459.37 43
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 55.53 55.53 55.53 55.53 55.53 55.53 1
Figure 7: Predicted Lake Hypolimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 7: Predicted Lake Hypolimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution

Stream (predicted) TDS Distribution by Waterbody Classification

Table 5: Stream (predicted) TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designation removed
Waterbody Class 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
A 61.31 162.47 266.56 272.86 473.05 3465.95 238
A-S 159.52 161.12 162.44 162.51 164.23 164.95 7
AA 27.21 81.46 197.95 241.91 350.42 726.17 110
B 74.47 179.80 294.77 336.02 638.20 11343.46 465
C 74.98 167.68 292.93 330.83 586.69 3135.13 2351
D 97.52 181.46 308.29 361.27 573.17 718.00 81
Figure 8 :Stream (predicted) TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designation removed

Figure 8 :Stream (predicted) TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designation removed

Lakes (predicted) TDS Distribution by Waterbody Classification

No lakes in NYS are classified as A-S

Table 6: Predicted Lake Epilimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed
Waterbody Classification 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
A 58.31 128.01 185.43 218.77 331.57 478.09 76
AA 23.80 44.26 145.20 164.59 240.02 1095.03 53
B 57.31 143.00 223.70 257.59 596.34 7828.50 135
C 17.44 57.05 138.12 155.84 278.02 937.85 157
Figure 9: Predicted Lake Epilimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Figure 9: Predicted Lake Epilimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Table 7: Predicted Lake Hypolimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed
Waterbody Classification 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
A 51.98 139.84 209.03 257.09 450.82 1218.45 55
AA 29.99 49.19 156.71 185.67 257.59 1445.57 43
B 53.21 140.12 224.74 240.55 588.21 1459.37 72
C 21.96 32.79 100.74 139.04 485.64 1172.86 62
Figure 10: Predicted Lake Hypolimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Figure 10: Predicted Lake Hypolimnetic TDS (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Stream Ecoregional Chloride Distribution

Table 8: Stream Ecoregional Chloride (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 0.40 6.7 23.40 26.24 133.85 1315 199
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 32.10 64.5 118.50 133.00 263.45 361 114
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 11.70 20.4 36.95 42.92 81.39 173 343
61 Erie Drift Plain 17.10 21.9 30.00 31.98 37.48 43 13
62 North Central Appalachians 12.96 20.7 33.65 35.72 60.20 654 28
64 Northern Piedmont 58.42 75.5 85.05 86.82 122.30 137 7
67 Ridge and Valley 18.70 51.4 82.80 86.32 163.80 248 59
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 12.65 34.9 61.55 75.68 141.85 585 403
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 25.00 32.0 55.60 61.80 88.60 118 21
Figure 11: Stream Ecoregional Chloride (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 11: Stream Ecoregional Chloride (mg/L) Distribution

Lakes Ecoregional Chloride Distribution

Table 9: Lake Ecoregional Epilimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 0.25 4.02 22.35 29.90 57.39 221.0 250
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 33.60 66.50 103.00 146.00 233.50 269.5 53
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 4.74 12.50 31.80 34.82 52.52 111.0 138
61 Erie Drift Plain 5.64 12.25 18.33 20.39 24.41 25.3 17
62 North Central Appalachians 1.95 11.90 26.60 32.10 51.97 81.4 28
64 Northern Piedmont 64.40 74.60 79.50 82.72 92.38 95.6 5
67 Ridge and Valley 8.54 24.25 57.80 59.48 86.29 99.7 11
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 5.90 18.88 46.11 52.40 146.40 363.5 96
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 23.50 29.50 57.20 58.10 111.90 187.5 33
Figure 12: Lake Ecoregional Epilimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 12: Lake Ecoregional Epilimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution

Table 10: Lake Ecoregional Hypolimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution
Ecoregion # Ecoregion Name 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
58 Northeastern Highlands 0.25 3.85 18.08 22.60 54.35 86.50 166
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 25.15 41.00 65.70 65.86 79.31 80.55 29
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 8.66 17.35 33.27 36.64 58.33 71.00 79
61 Erie Drift Plain 8.04 14.50 20.81 21.35 28.21 30.50 9
62 North Central Appalachians 1.00 11.90 13.50 29.72 70.67 81.75 16
64 Northern Piedmont 74.30 81.90 89.50 91.02 95.58 97.10 2
67 Ridge and Valley 0.25 0.25 29.88 35.80 53.57 59.50 5
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 4.23 18.85 40.74 48.50 141.00 471.00 49
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 15.00 22.70 39.55 43.10 53.75 57.30 7
Figure 13: Lake Ecoregional Hypolimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution

Figure 13: Lake Ecoregional Hypolimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution

Stream Chloride Distribution by Waterbody Classification

Table 11: Stream Chloride Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designation removed
Waterbody Class 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
A 5.85 22.15 56.10 68.86 146.00 654.0 87
A-S 17.60 17.60 17.60 17.60 17.60 17.6 1
AA 4.74 13.20 50.40 53.00 103.08 128.0 43
B 14.35 30.65 59.16 68.52 132.52 274.0 180
C 10.90 24.17 54.91 61.60 138.65 1315.0 830
D 11.10 22.80 57.70 69.46 161.20 209.0 39
Figure 14: Stream Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designation removed

Figure 14: Stream Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designation removed

Lakes Chloride Distribution by Waterbody Classification

No lakes in NYS are classified as A-S

Table 12: Lake Epilimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed
Waterbody Classification 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
A 7.40 22.90 36.70 53.00 75.10 104.0 84
AA 0.91 9.39 27.26 34.38 63.47 118.0 72
B 10.49 24.73 48.02 53.82 111.42 363.5 234
C 0.25 1.95 14.63 18.50 56.60 363.5 170
Figure 15: Lake Epilimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Figure 15: Lake Epilimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Table 13: Lake Hypolimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed
Waterbody Classification 25th percentile Median 75th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile Maximum # of sites
A 8.65 22.10 35.91 51.20 65.83 97.1 74
AA 1.40 11.62 31.21 35.54 76.62 118.0 58
B 10.30 19.42 41.80 47.36 78.78 471.0 133
C 0.25 1.00 7.13 9.24 53.24 471.0 77
Figure 16: Lake Hypolimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Figure 16: Lake Hypolimnetic Chloride (mg/L) Distribution: All Classification Categories with (T) and (TS) designations removed

Relationship between TDS and Chloride in Streams

There is a strong relationship between chloride and TDS in streams, however, the variance increases as values increase. Some sites have elevated TDS, but not co-contaminant chloride.
Figure 17: Linear regression of TDS and Chloride

Figure 17: Linear regression of TDS and Chloride

Figure 18: Linear regression of TDS and Chloride with reduced scale range

Figure 18: Linear regression of TDS and Chloride with reduced scale range

Level III Ecoregion Land Cover / Land Use Characteristics

Table 14: Level III Ecoregion Land Cover (%)
Ecoregion Number / Name Open Water Developed Open Space Developed Low Intensity Developed Medium Intensity Developed High Intensity Barren Deciduous Forest Evergreen Forest Mixed Forest Shrub-Scrub Grassland-Herbaceous Pasture-Hay Cultivated Crops Woody Wetland Emergent-Herbaceous Wetlands
58 Northeastern Highlands 3.48 2.46 0.55 0.19 0.04 0.15 49.64 16.95 11.77 1.21 0.72 3.45 0.91 8.01 0.47
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 4.48 13.33 9.33 8.22 5.35 0.57 23.87 3.82 8.10 0.26 0.77 10.66 3.08 7.27 0.87
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 1.47 4.86 1.05 0.32 0.09 0.16 39.74 5.05 16.01 0.68 0.53 18.29 8.38 2.91 0.48
61 Erie Drift Plain 2.28 4.60 1.26 0.39 0.08 0.10 39.69 3.14 13.06 0.38 0.42 21.23 5.45 6.77 1.15
62 North Central Appalachians 2.11 4.19 0.80 0.30 0.07 0.32 51.88 5.36 25.88 0.54 0.50 4.64 0.66 2.49 0.26
64 Northern Piedmont 12.04 25.60 14.35 16.48 4.35 0.87 17.46 0.09 0.79 0.33 0.72 0.61 0.05 4.52 1.75
67 Ridge and Valley 1.05 8.15 3.56 1.57 0.65 0.15 40.99 1.02 6.34 0.19 0.89 18.56 3.60 12.02 1.27
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 4.27 5.77 3.41 1.40 0.59 0.30 22.86 4.92 4.63 0.95 0.91 18.49 17.64 12.57 1.29
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 2.54 17.69 18.65 14.82 5.69 2.09 14.52 5.61 4.27 0.62 1.48 4.20 1.97 1.93 3.93
Table 15: Level III Ecoregion Percent Impervious Cover Statistics
Ecoregion Number / Name Mean Standard Deviation
58 Northeastern Highlands 0.44 3.95
59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 14.25 26.14
60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 0.87 5.48
61 Erie Drift Plain 1.01 5.87
62 North Central Appalachians 0.69 4.97
64 Northern Piedmont 20.91 27.11
67 Ridge and Valley 3.20 11.78
83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands 2.96 11.52
84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens 22.37 27.82

Maximum Stream TDS Values by Site

Figure 19: Map of actual maximum TDS by site

Figure 20: Map of predicted maximum TDS by site

Figure 19: Map of actual maximum TDS by site